Blog & News

Rio Grande Valley pharmacists say a move to a managed-care health system in the Texas Medicaid program will have a devastating impact on patients and small businesses.

Changes will begin March 1, but many health-care providers still have a lot of unanswered questions, pharmacists said.

Rather than pharmacies providing prescription drugs directly to low-income patients, persons in the Medicaid program will have to get prescriptions filled through a managed-care company, members of the Rio Grande Valley Independent Pharmacy Association said Friday.

“On March 1, pharmacists are going to take the worst hit of any profession that deals with

New 2012 Medicare Part D data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show the growing popularity among Medicare Part D beneficiaries in choosing plans featuring lower cost preferred pharmacy network options.

Enrollment in plans with preferred pharmacy networks has grown twice as fast as conventional plans and is offered by many of the largest Part D plan sponsors. Now almost a third of all beneficiaries are enrolled in a preferred pharmacy network plan, which can have premiums as low as $15 dollars a month and $0 dollar copays.

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt released the

FDA approved sitagliptin and metformin hydrochloride (HCl) extended-release (Janumet XR, Merck) tablets, a new treatment for type 2 diabetes that combines sitagliptin, which is the active component of Januvia (sitagliptin), with extended-release metformin.

Janumet XR provides a convenient once-daily treatment option for healthcare providers and patients who need help to control their blood sugar.

The drug is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both sitagliptin and extended-release metformin is appropriate.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities should require all employees to get an annual flu shot, a group representing many of the nation’s largest employers emphasized again at a press conference Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

An annual shot will reduce the risk of that unvaccinated workers pose to patients, other employees and families, according to the National Business Group on Health (NBGH).

NBGH represents more than 340 business groups and its members provide health insurance to about 55 million people in the United States, it said.

National Pharmacist Day is celebrated on January 12th of each year. But we want to recognize them all year long! Not only do pharmacists serve in a vital role throughout the healthcare system, the pharmacist profession remains as one of the most trusted professions around today. So next time you see your pharmacist, be sure to thank them for all they do to help keep you healthy!

Don't forget to nominate a Pharmacist for going above and beyond to make your pharmacy a better place to work! Each month we will select, and highlight a pharmacist as the "Pharmacist of the Month". We will send